Combined clutch and bearing



Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATEN 'r Ifori-ica This inventionrelates to a combined `clutch and bearing and more particularly to themounting of the gripper and bear-ing members in a unit of this type.

One of the objects of the present 'invention is to provide' a combinedclutch and bearing in which the bearing and gripper members areassembled in a cage and are held in place therein in a simple mannerinvolving a minimum number of parts and of assembly operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide i terial having a combined`clutch and bearing in whichl the bearing and gripper members engage andassist in supporting each other. This construction not only simplies themounting of the members in an assembled unit but also providesga unit ofmaximum capacity for a given size by reducing the amount of supportingstructure required for each member.

'I'he above and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemore. readily apparent from the following description when read inconnection w-ith the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is asection on the broken line I-I of Figure 2 of a combined clutch andbearing embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a, partially developed view of the cage;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the spring mounting; and1 Figure 5 is a partial radial section illustrating an alternativeconstruction.

The unit illustrated is adapted to connect an inner race l0 with anouter cylindrical race not shown, for free relative rotation in onedirection and for engagement to prevent relative rotation v in theopposite direction. 'I'he unit comprises an annular cage II formed ofsheet metal or like sheet material bent into an annulus and havingstiifening anges I2 at its opposite edges. lThe ring II is formedthroughout its circumference with a series of axially extending openingshavlng narrow portions I3 in the central part of the ring and enlargedportions I4 o! greater width than the portions I3 adjacent the edges ofthe ring. The enlarged portions are arranged on the a staggered mountingfor bearing rollers as will appear hereinafter.

The narrow portions Il of the openings are 4opposite ends of alternateopenings to provide v to thesheetfin :their central portions enhseparated therefrom at their ends. II'he flaps Il are then `bent in atabrupt angles tothe sheet to form flanges as shown in Figure 1. y

Springs I1 are adapted'to be carried by the flanges and are formed of`curved leaf spring mahook portions I8 at the opposite ends to hook overthe ends of the flanges I6. In this way, the springs are connected tothe flanges to' be carried thereby.

Grippers I9 are mounted in the openings Ii in the ring and as shown, areformed by elongated pieces having fiat parallel sides connected byarcuate 'ends 'curved about spaced centers. lThe grippers are of suchlength that they will substantially ll the openings I3 and willterminate ilush with the inner edges of the wider openings I4. Bearingrollers 2| are mounted in the openings I4 and are of such a size thatthey will substantially illl the openings.

In order to support the bearings and grippers in the ring or cage, theadjacent ends thereof are formed with intertting parts shown ascomprising projections 22 on the ends of the grippers which nt intocentral depressions 23 in the ends of the bearings. The depressions andprojections are so proportioned that the adjacent edges ofthe bearingsand grippers will be slightly spaced but will engage to limit relativemisalinement upon a slight tilting movement of the parts. The outer endsof the grippers are formed with central depressions 24 in the form ofslots extending across the gripper ends and having curved edges and theouter ends of the bearings are formed with axial depressions 25sii'nilar to the depressions 23. The cage is formed with integralfingers 2i and 21 fitting into the depressions 25 and 24 respectively tohold the bearings and grippers in place in the cage.

In order that the parts may be assembled the ring II is split asindicated at 28 adjacent the tongue 21 so that this tongue can be bentout of the ring to permit assembly of the bearings and grippers thereinand can then be bent back to its original position to fit into thedepressions 24. When the parts are assembled in this manner. the bearingrollers and grippers will be held assembled in the cage so that it canbe handled as a single unit during installation and will be suincientlyfree to operate between the races in the intended manner.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative construction which may be employedwhere great bearing capacity is required and which includes afgripper'projections 32 at its ends fitting into ing rollers have depressions 3lin their outer ends to receive tongues 3l formed on a cage or ring 31.This construction is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 to 4,except that two bearing rollers are provided for each gripper toincrease the bearing capacity of the unit.

While two embodiments ofthe invention have been shown and described, itwill be understood that these are illustrative only and are not to betaken 'as a denition of the scopeot the invention, reference being hadfor this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. .5 combined clutch and bearing comprising an annular ring o! sheetmaterial formed in its peripnery with axially elongated openings havingportions of reduced width and adjacent wider portions, gripper membersmounted in the `portions of reduced width, bearing members mounted inthe wider portions, interiltting parts on the.

adjacent endsof the gripper and bearing members whereby they mutuallysupport each other, the outer ends of the members being formed withcentral depressions, and integral tongues on the ring extending into thedepressions to support the members in the ring.

2. A combined clutch and bearing comprising depressions 33 in bearingrollers 34. The bearmounted in the narrow portions, bearing rollersmounted in the wider Portions. the adjacent ends of the grippers androllers being formed with interfitting projections and depressionsrespectively whereby they mutually support each other, the-outer ends ofthe grippers and rollers being formed with depressions, and tongues onthe ring fitting into the last named depressions to support the grippersandrollers inthe ring.

3. A. combined clutch and bearing comprising an annular ring of sheetmaterial formed in its periphery withaxially elongated openings havingcentral relatively narrowportions and wider portions at each end,Slippers mounted in the narrow portions, bearing rollers mounted in eachof the wider portions, the adjacent ends of the grippers and bearingsbeing formed'xwith intertting proiections and depressions respectivelywhereby they mutually support each other. theouter ends of the bearingsbeing formed with depressions. and tongues on the ring extending intothe last named depressions.

4. A combined clutch and gearing comprising an annular cage havingaxially extending openings therein, alined gripper and bearing membersmounted in each of the openings, the adjacent ends of said members beingformed with i interfltting projections and depressions respecan annularring of sheet material formed in its periphery with axiallyelongated-openings which are relatively narrow throughout a portion oftheir length-and have wider portions at one end,

the wider portions being at opposite ends of al-' ternate openingsaround the ring, e grippers tively whereby they mutually support eachother and the outermostends 'being formed with de-y pressions, andprojections on the cage extending into the last named depressions tosupport the members in the cage.

. CARL E. sWENsoN.

